A DOCUMENTARY AT THE MCWANE - In Birmingham, Sidewalk will be hosting a special screening of The Lottery at the McWane Center Rushton Theatre next Thursday, August 26, at 7 p.m. The Lottery is a documentary following the lives of four families in Harlem and the Bronx as they hope their children are selected in the lottery for a charter school. The film is comprised of interviews with politicians and educators and addresses the problems in educational reform today [Watch the trailer]. The screening is FREE but will have limited seating. E-mail sidewalk@sidewalkfest.com to reserve your seat.

TWO CHANCES TO GIVE BACK - The Educational Arts Corporation is still in the running for a Pepsi Grant to continue bringing Filmmaking 101 classes to the inner-city schools of Birmingham. All they need is your vote! Text 100600 to 73774(PEPSI) once a day to vote. Voting is free of charge and will end August 31st. Also, if you enjoy everything that Sidewalk does for the Birmingham community and the local film industry, this week is your chance to say "thank you!" Sidewalk is hoping to meet a 10K fundraising goal by August 20. [Donate here - 100% Tax Deductible]

A CALL FOR ACTORS - Auditions for the short film Highway Kings will be held at Birmingham-Southern College Theater beginning on Saturday August 21 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. To request a script or for questions, contact Spencer Lenzie at sslenzie@bsc.edu. [View map to BSC]

A CALL FOR CREW - The Alabama Film Office has been updating the Alabama film production directory. Local film professionals and vendors can now register at alabamafilm.org. [Crew only - No actors] The database will be open for use beginning August 31st!

A CALL FOR SCREENWRITERS - The deadline for the Sidewrite competition is less than a month away! Submit your short screenplays (less than 15 pages) before September 15 to the AMIA office. Visit the Sidewrite information page for full details and to download a submission form. The winner will receive $500 cash prize as well as a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software.

LE CINEMA - UAB will be resuming the Foreign Film Series this September. The first film, The Pope's Toilet, from Uruguay will screen on September 1. [Watch the trailer] Next in the queue is the French film The Secret of the Grain which will screen on September 15. [Watch the trailer] All screenings are FREE and are held at the Hulsey Recital Hall at 8 p.m.

SOUTHERN CIRCUIT FILM TOUR - Beginning in October, the Alys Stephens Center will host a series of independent films selected for the Southern Circuit Traveling Film Festival. The first film, Pelada, will screen on October 26 at 7 p.m. [Watch the trailer] Six southern filmmakers were selected for the series and will be screening their films throughout the season. The films will also be followed by a Q&A session. Admission is $12.

THE SHOWPLACE OF THE SOUTH - The Alabama Theatre is continuing to screen films on the weekends leading up to the Sidewalk Film Festival. This weekend, Ghostbusters will be playing on August 21st followed by weekend films until September 18th. There's no better place to watch a film, so be sure to support the Alabama and the Lyric Theatre!

*THE* FESTIVAL - Last but certainly not least, the Sidewalk Film Festival is quickly approaching, and September 24th will be here before we know it. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for updates on the film selections and more. Want to be in on the action? Sign up to be a Volunteer!

Check back for more information on these events and others to come in this fall. For more constant updates, be sure to follow Zoom Out on Twitter or Facebook.